JFK Hosts West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer at the White House 1962

West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer arrived at the White House for a two-day state visit on November 14, 1962.

The President and First Lady met Adenauer and his daughter, Mrs. Lisbeth Werhahn, at the White House’s South Portico as they arrived by limousine. The group then moved to the South Lawn for a formal ceremony and inspection of the honor guard. The ceremony was followed by a long meeting in the Oval Office with a number of other officials, aides, and interpreters present. After that meeting concluded, the President managed to fit in a quick swim before reconvening for a luncheon at 1:30 P.M.

In his toast, President Kennedy welcomed Adenauer as an “old, valued and courageous friend.” Alluding in part to the recent crisis over Cuba, Kennedy said that the timing of Adenauer’s visit was important, “at an important turning point, possibly, in the history of relations between East and West.” In response, Adenauer recounted the way in which ties grew since 1945 between the United States and what became West Germany and paid tribute to former presidents Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower along with their secretaries of state, Dean Acheson and John Foster Dulles. He also congratulated Kennedy on his recent handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis:

I feel that this was a very great success for the United States of America, and it was a failure for Mr. Khrushchev. The world once again has seen Mr. Khrushchev as he really is.1

The luncheon went until 4 P.M. After a brief break, it was followed by another meeting with Adenauer that focused on NATO’s military strength and organizational challenges as well as the problem of West Berlin.2

President Kennedy and the First Lady walk to meet the arriving limousine carrying West Germany Chancellor Konrad Adenauer at the White House on 14 November 1962. Photo by Abbie Rowe / National Archives.

President Kennedy meets West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer by the White House’s South Portico. 10:40AM. Photo by Abbie Rowe / National Archives.

The arrival ceremony for West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer on the South Grounds of the White House. In the background is the Old Executive Office Building (Eisenhower Executive Building). 10:45 – 11:10 AM. Photo by Abbie Rowe / National Archives.

The arrival ceremony for West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer on the South Grounds of the White House. 10:45 – 11:10 AM. Photo by Abbie Rowe / National Archives.

The receiving line at the arrival ceremony for West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer on the South Grounds of the White House. 10:45 – 11:10 AM. Jackie Kennedy stands to Adenauer’s right. Secretary of State Dean Rusk is partially obscured slight left of the center of frame. At right of frame, in uniform, is Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mxwell Taylor. Photo by Abbie Rowe / National Archives.

First Lady Jackie Kennedy poses with Mrs. Lisbeth Werhahn, German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer’s daughter, at the welcome ceremony for the Germany Chancellor at the White House on 14 November 1962. Photo by Abbie Rowe / National Archives.

President Kennedy meets with West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer in the Oval Office at the White House on 14 December 1962. Photo by Abbie Rowe / National Archives.

West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer (left) says a few remarks at the arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House on 14 December 1962. Between Adenauer and President Kennedy is Secretary of State Dean Rusk. Photo by Abbie Rowe / National Archives.

President Kennedy escorts West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer to his limousine at the conclusion of the German Chancellor’s White House visit on 15 November 1962. Photo by Abbie Rowe / National Archives.

President Kennedy escorts West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer to his limousine at the conclusion of the German Chancellor’s White House visit on 15 November 1962. Photo by Abbie Rowe / National Archives.

“Toasts of the President and Chancellor Adenauer,” 14 November 1962, in Public Papers of the President: John F. Kennedy: 1963, doc. 507. ↩